Single Pulleys

Single fixed/ Single movable

A pulley is a simple machine essentially designed of a wheel with a grooved rim, in which a rope or chain can run to change the direction of the pull, and thereby lift the load.



Some Examples of Pulleys:

Flag poles are an example of a single fixed pulley.

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That's because the rope goes through a groove in

a wheel at the top of the mast. When you pull one rope

the flag will go up. When you pull another rope the flag

will go down.

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The classroom blinds is an example of a single fixed pulley


images-3.jpeg The crane is an example of a single movable pulley.

This is because the rope that runs through the wheel with a grooved rim,

and the load is attached to the hook and the effort goes up.

IMG_0078.JPG The school's stage curtain is an example of a single movable pulley.


Imagine life without simple machines. The single fixed and single movable pulleys give a mechanical advantage . For the single fixed pulley, there's only one rope supporting the load. Therefore, it doesn't give a mechanical advantage. The single movable pulley gives a mechanical advantage because the load divided by the number of ropes supporting the load makes it feel lighter. So, since there are two ropes supporting the load, it gives the 1/2 the effort to lift it.